Adjustable rotatable shelf



Aug. 22, 1950 E. H. BoDDY ADJUSTABLE ROTATABLE SHELF Filed June 18, 1947invern-tow Edwin H. Boddg,

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atentecl ug. *22, 1950 UNITED ADJUSTABLE ROTA'TABLE SHELF Edwin H.Bodily, Erie, Pa., assigner to lGeneral Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application .lune 18, 1947, Serial No. 355,5ii9

(lCl. 21h-14S) 1i() Claims. 1

My invention relates to shelves and more particularly to rotatableshelves having provision for the adjustment of the height thereof.

To increase the accessibility of the contents of a cabinet it issometimes desirable to provide shelves of the rotatable type. Forexample, in cabinets having generally round interiors several circularshelves are sometimes arranged along a central shaft and provision ismade for the rotation of the shelves. In order to provide adaptabilityfor accommodating articles of various sizes and heights, it is desirableto make one or more of the shelves adjustable so that the spacingbetween shelves can be varied.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a rotatableshelf assembly including an improved arrangement for adjusting theheight of one or more of the shelves.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a sectional elevation Viewpartly broken away of a portion of a shelf assembly; Fig. 2 is a viewpartly broken away taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is asectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is aperspective view of a portion of the shelf assembly; and Fig. 5 is aView taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Briefly, the shelf assembly includes a rotatable shaft and one or moreshelves, the assembly being arranged to rotate as a unit when any one ofthe shelves is turned. Through the manipulation of a readily accessiblearm, rotation of a shelf is also utilized to accomplish adjustment ofthe height of the shelf.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a rod I is provided for positioning the shelfassembly centrally within a cabinet. The bottom wall 2 of the cabinetincludes a raised portion 3, and an inverted cup` member i is secured tothis raised portion by bolts 5 and nuts t or other suitable fasteningdevices. The rod l is provided with a threaded end 'I and is secured tothe cup member 4 by a nut 8 which is in threaded engagement with the endof the rod. A similar arrangement (not shown) is provided forpositioning the upper end of the rod I within the cabinet.

A hollow shaft 9 is arranged concentrically with respect to the rod I.The shaft is mounted for rotation about the rod I as an axis, and ballbearings Ill, only one of which is shown in the figure, are provided atthe top and bottom to facilitate the free rotation of the shaft.

A shelf Il is slidably mounted on the shaft 9 and is restrained againstrotation relative to the shaft so that the turning of the shelf may beutilized to rotate the shelf assembly. Although only one` shelf has beenshown in the figure, it will be understood that several shelves may beemployed in the assembly. The shaft 9 is of hexagonal cross section, andthe shelf II in cludes a hub l2 having a hexagonal opening which fitsabout the shaft. The hexagonal construction of the shaft and of the huballows the shelf to move longitudinally along the shaft but prevents anyrotation of the shelf relative to the shaft. Although the shaft 9 hasbeen illustrated of hexagonal cross section and the shelf II has beenillustrated as utilizing a hub I2 of hexagonal cross section fittingabout the shaft, it will be obvious that the shaft 9 and the opening inthe hub I2 could be made of any other noncircular cross section so thatthere is no relative rotation between the shelf and the shaft.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the hub I2 is composed of twocomplementary disks I3 and Iii. The edges of the disks are overlapped asindicated at l5 and are welded or otherwise suitably bonded to form aunitary assembly. The lower disk lli is provided with a plurality ofradially extending rounded depressions IB which, together withsemi-circular openings I'I, provided in the rim I8 of the complementaryupper disk I3, form circular openings I9. The shelf includes a pluralityof radially extending rods or spokes t which are received within theopenings I9. A continuous wire 2| is spirally arranged on the spokes 2tt0 provide a grille-like supporting surface. An annular member or ring22 is secured to the outer extremities of the spokes to assist inmaintaining the spokes 2t in their proper relationship, and the ringincludes a portion 23 which is raised slightly above the surface of thewire 2| to prevent articles from being accidentally pushed beyond theouter edge of the shelf.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the shelf II is Supported by a sleeve 24which is concentric with the shaft 9. The sleeve 24 is internallythreaded and is arranged to engage a collar or threaded element 25 whichis keyed to the shaft 9. Relative rotation between the sleeve andthecollar is utilized to vary the position of the sleeve andi hence toadjust the height of the shelf which is supported thereby. In order tocontrol the relative rotation between the sleeve 24 and the collar 25 anarm or spring handle 25 is secured to the sleeve and is normallyresiliently biased into engagement with any selected one of the spokes20.

Although the collar 25 may be permanently xed to the shaft 9, it ispreferably secured by set screws 21 or other suitable keying devices.The set screws engage openings provided in the shaft 9 to restrain thecollar against axial movement. Additional openings may be provided inthe shaft, if desired, in order that the collar and hence the shelf maybe positioned for vertical adjustment at any one of a plurality oflocations along the shaft 9. It can be seen that, while the adjustmentof the height of the shelf in any one position of the collar is limitedto the length of the sleeve, the provision of additional openings willpermit the shelf to be adjustably positioned in a number of locationsalong the shaft, lending greater flexibility to the arrangement.

In order to provide for vertical adjustment of the sleeve and hence ofthe shelf which is supported thereby, the sleeve is threaded internallyand is arranged for engagement with a threaded portion 28 of the collar25. As can be seen more clearly in Fig. 4, the collar 25 is providedwith a hexagonal bore to prevent relative rotation between the shaft andthe collar. Any relative rotation between the sleeve 24 and the collar25 results in a movement of the sleeve along the shaft in a verticaldirection and consequently in a changing of the position of the shelf II. Moreover, since both the collar and the shelf are mounted on theshaft so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween, any relativerotation of the shelf with respect to the sleeve results in a changingof the vertical position of the shelf. In order to prevent such relativerotation as a result of the revolving of the shelf during its normaluse, the arm 26 is arranged between the sleeve 24 and one of the spokes2! of the shelf. The arm is secured to the sleeve 24 by a flangedcoupling member 29 which includes a tubular portion 39 surrounding oneend of the arm 26. Flanged portions 3l of the coupling member are weldedor otherwise suitably bonded to the sleeve 24. As shown more clearly inFig. 5 the upper surface of the arm 2E is concave in shape so as toengage the circular spokes 20.

The arm is normally biased upwardly in engagement with one of the spokes2E! by the natural resilience of the material of which the arm iscomposed. When the arm is in its normal position the shelf, sleeve,collar, and shaft are all locked for simultaneous rot-ation as a unitand the shelf, therefore, rotates in the same horizontal plane withoutany change in its vertical position. When it is desired to adjust theheight of the shelf the arm 26 is manually retracted from engagementwith aVv spoke 20 and held stationary while the shelf is rotated. Itwill be observed that the arm is arranged close to the bottom of theshelf and that it extends substantially to the periphery of the shelf,so that the arm is readily accessible without any disturbance ofarticles in the space below the shelf. The rotation of the shelf whilethe arm is held stationary causes a relative rotation between the collar25 which rotates with the shelf, and the sleeve 24 which is heldstationary because of the manual gripping of the arm. Depending on thedirecttion of rotation of the shelf the sleeve moves either up or down,and the shelf, which is supported by the sleeve, is correspondinglyadjusted 4 in height. Thus, if the shelf under these conditions isrotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the top in Fig.1, the sleeve 24 is moved downwardly and the shelf yassumes a lowerposition, such as that shown by the dotted lines in this figure.

It can be seen that I have provided a rotatable shelf assembly whereinduring normal operation any shelf may be gripped for rotating the shelfassembly to provide access to the articles thereon and wherein, throughthe manipulation of a readily accessible arm, rotation of any selectedshelf may be utilized to effect an adjustment in the height of thatshelf.

In lieu of a separate collar 25, the shaft may be provided with suitablethreaded portions at proper intervals. Although only one adjustableshelf has been shown, it will be apparent that more than one may beemployed in the refrigerator, that not all of the shelves need be madeadjustable, and, if desired, to accommodate tall articles, one of theshelves may be made semicircular or pie-shaped.

While I have disclosed a specific embodiment of my invention as appliedto a household refrigerator, other applications will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art. I do not, therefore, desire my invention tobe limited to the particular construction illustrated and I intend bythe appended claims to cover all modications within the spirit and scopeof my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. An adjustable shelf structure comprising a shaft of non-circularcross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, a shelfslidably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, said shelfincluding a portion of non-circular cross section cooperating with saidshaft, a sleeve arranged in threaded relationship with said shaft andsupporting said shelf, and means engaging said sleeve and said shelf toprevent relative rotation between said sleeve and said shaft formaintaining said shelf in one axial position relative to said shaft,said means being disengageable to permit relative rotation between saidsleeve and said shaft for varying the axial position of said shelf whensaid shelf is manually rotated.

2. An adjustable shelf structure comprising a shaft of non-circularcross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, a shelfslidably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, said shelfincluding a portion of non-circular cross section cooperating with saidshaft, a sleeve arranged in threaded relationship with said shaft andsupporting said shelf, and an arm fixed to said sleeve and biased intoengagement with said shelf for preventing relative rotation between saidshaft and said sleeve to maintain said shelf in one axial positionrelative to said shaft, said arm being disengageable from said shelf topermit relative rotation between said shaft and said sleeve foradjusting said shelf axially with respect to said shaft when said shelfis manually rotated.

3. An adjustable shelf structure comprising a shaft of non-circularcross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, a shelfslidably mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, said shelfincluding a portion of non-circular cross section cooperating with saidshaft, a sleeve arranged in threaded relationship with said shaft andsupporting said shelf, and an arm fixed to said sleeve and biased intoengagement with said shelf for preventing relative rotation between saidshaft and said sleeve to maintain said shelf in one axial positionrelative to said shaft, said arm extending closely adjacent to saidshelf and substantially to the periphery thereof for readyaccessibility, said arm being disengageable from said shelf to permitrelative rotation between said shaft and said sleeve for shifting saidshelf axially with respect to said shaft when said shelf is manuallyrotated.

4. An adjustable shelf structure comprising a rotatable shaft ofnon-circular cross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, athreaded collar keyed to said shaft, a sleeve concentric with said shaftand arranged for threaded engagement with said collar, a rotatable shelfsupported by said sleeve, said shelf including a portion of non-circularcross section engaging said shaft for rotation therewith but beingarranged for axial movement relative thereto, and means engaging saidshelf and said sleeve for causing said sleeve to rotate with saidcollar, said means being disengageable to permit relative rotationbetween said sleeve and said collar for shifting said shelf axially withrespect to said shaft when said shelf is manually rotated.

5. An adjustable rotatable shelf structure coinprising a rotatable shaftof non-circular cross section, means for rotatably suppoiiting saidshaft, a threaded collar keyed to said shaft, a

sleeve surrounding said collar and in threaded engagement threwith, arotatable shelf supported by said sleeve, said shelf including a portionof non-cirfgilar cross section for engaging said shaft to restrain saidshelf against angular movement relative to said shaft but to permitaxial movement relative thereto, and an arm fixed to said sleeve andbiased into engagement with said shelf for preventing relative rotationbetween said collar and said sleeve, said arm being disengageable fromsaid shelf to permit rotation of said collar relative to said sleeve forshifting said shelf axially with respect to said shaft when said shelfis manually rotated.

6. An adjustable rotatable shelf structure comprising a rotatable shaftof non-circular cross section, means for rotatably supporting saidshaft, a threaded collar keyed to said shaft, a sleeve surrounding saidcollar and in threaded engagement therewith, a. rotatable shelfsupported by said Sleeve, said shelf including a portion of non*circular cross section for engaging said. shaft to restrain said shelfagainst angular movement relative to said shaft but to permit axialmovement relative thereto, and an arm fixed to said sleeve and biasedinto engagement `with said shelf for preventing relative rota-tionbetween said collar and said sleeve, said arm being disengageable fromsaid shelf to permit manual rotation of said shelf for effectingrelative rotation of said sleeve and said collar to shift said shelfaxially with respect to said shaft.

7. An adjustable shelf structure comprising a rotatable shaft ofnon-circular cross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, athreaded collar keyed to said shaft, a sleeve surrounding said collarand in threaded engagement therewith, a shelf supported on said sleeve,said shelf including a portion of non-circular cross section forengaging said shaft to insure rotation of said shelf with said shaftwhile permitting axial movement relative thereto, and means engagingsaid shelf and said sleeve for causing said shelf, sleeve, collar, andshaft to rotate as a unit whereby said shelf rotates in one plane to`provide accessibility to the contents thereof, said means beingdisengageable from said shelf to permit relative rotation between saidcollar and said sleeve whereby manual rotation of said shelf causes ashifting of said shelf axially with respect to said shaft.

8. An adjustable shelf structure Comprising a rotatable shaft ofnon-circular cross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, athreaded collar keyed to said shaft, a sleeve surrounding said collarand in threaded engagement therewith, a shelf supported on said sleeve,said shelf including a portion of non-circular cross section forengaging said shaft to insure rotation of said shelf with said shaftwhile permitting axial movement relative thereto, and an arm secured tosaid sleeve and normally resiliently biased into engagement with saidshelf for causing said shelf, sleeve, collar, and shaft to rotate as aunit whereby said shelf may be rotated in one plane to provideaccessibility to the contents thereof, said arm being disengageable fromsaid shelf to permit relative rotation between said collar and saidsleeve whereby manual rotation of said shelf causes a shifting of saidshelf axially with respect to said shaft.

9. An adjustable shelf structure comprising a shaft of non-circularcross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, said shaftincluding a threaded element, a sleeve in threaded engagement with saidelement, a shelf supported by said sleeve and slidably mounted on saidshaft for rotation therewith, said shelf including a portion ofnon-circular cross section for engaging said shaft, said shelf includinga plurality of radially extending rods, and means engaging said sleeveand any selected one of said rods for preventing relative rotationbetween said shaft and said sleeve, said means being disengageable topermit relative rotation between said shaft and said sleeve for shiftingsaid shelf axially with respect to said shaft when said shelf ismanually rotated.

10. An adjustable shelf structure including a shaft of non-circularcross section, means for rotatably supporting said shaft, said shaftincluding a threaded element, a sleeve in threaded engagement with saidelement, a shelf supported by said sleeve and slidably mounted on saidshaft for rotation therewith, said shelf including a portion ofnon-circular cross section for engaging said shaft, said shelf includinga plurality of radially extending rods, and means engaging said sleeveand any selected one of said rods for preventing relative rotationbetween said shaft and said sleeve, said means being arranged closelyadjacent said shelf and extending substantially to the periphery thereoffor ready accessibility, said means being disengageable to permitrelative rotation between said shaft and said sleeve for shifting saidshelf axially with respect to said shaft when said shelf is manuallyrotated.

EDWIN H. BODDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS a Number Name Date 304,385 Weaver Sept. 2, 18842,065,952 Trautmann Dec. 29, 1936 2,182,003 Roark Dec. 5, 1939

